Kurt Davis
Kurt Davis is a founding partner in the firm FirstStrategic, Communications & Public Affairs. Davis leads the firm’s strategic public policy development for non-profit clients and rural Arizona issues. Prior to forming FirstStrategic, Davis served as the Vice President of Public Affairs & Marketing at Northern Arizona University, a doctoral one university serving more than 19,000 students from all 50 states, 63 nations and more than 50 native American tribes where he was responsible for all facets of state and federal relations, marketing, media relations, student recruitment and distance education marketing. Prior to his position with Northern Arizona University, Davis served as the Vice President of Public Affairs & Corporate Communications at Rural/Metro, a publicly traded company providing fire and ambulance services to communities across the nation. He had direct responsibility for public affairs, legislative affairs, contract negotiations, fire marketing efforts, corporate communications, crisis communications, franchise protection and community relations. Prior to joining Rural/Metro, Davis was Deputy Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant in the Office of the Governor where he had direct oversight responsibility for the Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections, State Land Department, Game & Fish Department, Department of Youth Treatment and Rehabilitation, Governor’s Offices of Women, Drug Policy, Community Affairs and the Pardons and Parole Board. He was appointed to represent the governor on the legislatively created Constitutional Defense Council and the statewide Law Enforcement Policy Council. Davis developed and worked with the State Legislature to institute broad based public policy reforms for adult/youth crime policy and transportation initiatives. Davis also served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs & Issues Analysis in the Arizona Office of the Attorney General, as Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party and held appointed positions in the Reagan Administration at the White House, the Department of Education and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Davis has also served as a gubernatorial appointment to the Arizona Board of Regents, the Vision 21 Transportation Task Force and the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools. In 2007, U.S. Senator John McCain appointed Davis to co-lead his Arizona campaign for President. Davis currently serves as a Board Member on the Great Hearts Academies, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and as a Commissioner on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. He received his BS degree from Northern Arizona University. Davis is a native of Los Angeles, California. He and his wife, Janet, live in Phoenix and enjoy the outdoors and their two grandchildren Finley and Amelie.
Read more
Marcus Dell’Artino
Marcus Dell’Artino is a partner in the firm FirstStrategic, Communications & Public Affairs joining as a partner in 2008. He leads the firm’s state relations line of business and will be active in initiative and referendum campaign efforts. Dell’Artino was most recently a partner in Public Policy Partners, a government relations firm, as well as Turning Point Public Relations, a marketing and political consulting firm. He recently left the company to be the Deputy Director of the Southwest Region for John McCain’s 2008 Presidential campaign. Prior to joining Public Policy Partners in 2001, he served as the Arizona Political Director for U.S. Senator John McCain’s campaign for U.S. President. While as a partner in Public Policy Partners, Dell’Artino lobbied the Arizona State Legislature on behalf of numerous Fortune 500 clients, local governments and non-profits. His accomplishments were noticed at the Arizona State Legislature by being voted as one of the “Best Lobbyists” in 2008 by the Arizona Capitol Times. Previous to working for Senator McCain, he was the Chief of Staff to County Supervisor Don Stapley where he managed all aspects of county government. In addition, he worked for several members of the Arizona Congressional Delegation including former Congressman Matt Salmon and Congressman J.D. Hayworth. Dell’Artino has managed and consulted on several statewide initiatives, including Proposition 100 – Protect Our Homes (2008), Proposition 202 – Indian Gaming (2002), Proposition 108 – Telecommunications (2000), and Proposition 303 – The Growing Smarter Initiative (1998), as well as served as a consultant to the Arizona Republican Party and often serves as a campaign expert for several media outlets. In 2006, he was asked by the International Republican Institute to travel to the country of Jordan to lecture on the importance of survey instruments as valuable tools for municipalities and their constituents. While there he was able to make suggestions to municipal leaders on how to open up a dialogue with their constituents on the needs and challenges occurring in individual cities. In 2007, he was selected as a member of Phoenix’s “Forty under 40” sponsored by the Phoenix Business Journal. The honor is given to those who have made significant achievements in their fields of business as well as contributions to their community and civic involvement. Dell’Artino currently serves on the City of Phoenix Block Watch committee as well as the Encanto Village Planning Committee. Previously he has served on several boards including the Maricopa County Parks Board and the Central Arizona Shelter Services Board. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Arizona.
Read more
Barry Dill
Barry Dill is a partner in the firm FirstStrategic, Communications & Public Affairs joining in 2005. Dill leads the firm’s federal relations line of business and Southern Arizona outreach efforts. Prior to joining FirstStrategic, Dill was an associate for seven years at the Phoenix, AZ government/public relations firm Policy Development Group (PDG). PDG represented a wide range of clients at the local, state and federal level. In 2006, Dill served as senior advisor and strategist to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano’s successful re-election campaign. He previously served as senior advisor and strategist during Governor Napolitano’s gubernatorial race in 2002. In 1998, Dill served the same role in Napolitano’s first campaign, a successful run for Arizona Attorney General. Dill’s entry into politics began in 1986 when he was chosen to serve on U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini’s Tucson staff. In 1988 Dill was the Southern Arizona Campaign Manager for DeConcini’s successful re-election bid and was named Southern Arizona Director for the Senator’s Tucson office shortly thereafter. In 1991, Dill was tapped by Senator DeConcini to manage the entire state U.S. Senate operation as State Director, where he served until the Senator’s retirement in 1995. After Senator DeConcini’s retirement, Dill joined the Denver-based think tank Center for the New West. The Center for the New West focused on policy issues dealing with trade, technology and economic development. During his tenure, Dill served as director of the Center’s Phoenix office. In 1996, Dill left the policy world for election politics and served as Arizona deputy state director for the successful Clinton/Gore presidential re-election effort. The election is noteworthy because it was the first time a Democrat ticket had won in Arizona since 1948. For the campaign, Dill oversaw all grassroots, field and GOTV activities. Before entering politics, Dill was a radio announcer and news reporter for stations in Utah and Arizona. In 1984-85, he was a sports correspondent for the now-defunct Phoenix Gazette newspaper. Dill is a native of Indiana. He and his wife Melinda have four children and live in Scottsdale.
Read more
Bob Charles
Bob has spent the last decade working in multiple disciplines within the political, government and private arenas doing everything from managing campaigns, to running state and federal legislation, to consulting and implementing communications and strategy for businesses, organizations, and candidates. Bob serves as the Director of Communications, Campaigns & Legislative Analysis for FirstStrategic. He has worked on Capitol Hill in the offices of U.S. Senator John McCain and served as Senator McCain’s National Coalition Coordinator for his 2008 Presidential campaign. His experience in managing and providing strategic communications to political campaigns spans across Arizona and he officially served as Congressman Ben Quayle’s Congressional District Director. Bob also served as Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Industrial Commission and Legislative Liaison at Arizona Game and Fish Department. Most recently Bob was a communications leader for the largest electric utility in Arizona at Arizona Public Service (APS). Bob used his experience in strategic communications to help APS convert negative stories to balanced or positive coverage while pushing positive stories across all communication sectors. Bob earned his Bachelor of Science from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and his Master’s in Business Administration from The George Washington University. Bob is married and has two children, ages 5 and 3, and a boxer from Boxer Luv Rescue.
Read more